The Ramallah Concert

The Ramallah Concert

The internationally respected West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said, consists of young, highly talented Israeli and Arabic musicians. The ensemble works to create dialogue between Middle-Eastern cultures through the experience of playing music together. Until recently, a concert by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Ramallah, Palestine was unthinkable. However, the country was the centre of attraction when the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performed there on August 21, 2005. Faced with myriad organizational and political hurdles, the orchestra overcame the impossible in order to play there. The performance was a sensation and is considered the absolute highlight of the orchestra's six-year history. The Ramallah concert event attracted worldwide attention far beyond the musical community and was reviewed by all media.